In the movie The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio plays the role of Howard Hughes, a famously eccentric billionaire and aviator. Hughes suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) throughout his life, which is shown in scenes such as Hughes carrying his own bar of soap into public restrooms and washing his hands in stereotypically obsessive ways. Hughes also is shown following elaborate routines exactly. If there is any mistake in the routine, he must start over.
The Aviator showed a realistic portrayal of what it is like to suffer from OCD. But the movie gained even more attention when Leonardo DiCaprio publicly announced that he, too, suffers from OCD.
Like Hughes, DiCaprio also had an excessive fear of germs and would wash his hands frequently. He also had other OCD-typical behaviors such as having to touch things a specific number of times and having to step on cracks in the sidewalk in a very specific way. If he didn’t do it correctly, he would have to go back and start over.
Living with OCD can be severely life-impacting. The compulsions and routines begin to take over, leaving sufferers feeling trapped in a mental prison they cannot escape.
OCD is a mental health disorder characterized by recurring and intrusive thoughts or impulses that cause distress, usually accompanied by repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed as a response to the obsessions. The intrusive thoughts are the “obsession” component of “obsessive compulsive disorder”, while the repetitive behaviors are the compulsions.
Obsessions are unwanted and distressing thoughts or urges that persistently occur in a person’s mind. Obsessions common to OCD include fear of germs and contamination, a need for symmetry and order, disturbing thoughts, or fear of harm or danger to oneself or to loved ones.
Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that individuals with OCD feel compelled to perform. Failure to perform the behavior often induces high levels of anxiety, to the point of needing to go back and execute the routine properly. Compulsions include excessive handwashing or housecleaning, repetitive checking behavior (such as repeatedly checking door locks or household appliances), counting, touching objects, or arranging objects in a particular manner.
Research is still underway to determine what causes OCD and understand risk factors. There are several possibilities that include genetic factors, biological factors, and environmental factors. It is not yet clear what role each of these factors plays in developing OCD.
Genetic link: A person with OCD is four times more likely to have another family member who has OCD than someone without OCD, suggesting OCD has a genetic predisposition. Studies have shown that having a parent or sibling with OCD is associated with a higher risk of developing the disorder.
Biological link: Brain imaging studies have shown that people with OCD often have differences in the frontal cortex and subcortical structures of the brain, areas of the brain that impact the ability to control behavior and emotional responses. Researchers have also found connections in several brain areas to obsessive thoughts, compulsive behavior, and associated fear and anxiety.
Environmental link: Stress, trauma, and potentially infections may cause someone to develop OCD. OCD is often linked to major life changes such as divorce, death in the family, abuse, or major life changes. In Leonardo DiCaprio’s case, he noted his OCD became much worse after he moved to Los Angeles – a major life change.
OCD affects between 1% to 3% of people on average. Based on those averages, in Riverside County, California, between 25,000 and 75,000 people may be dealing with OCD. For all of California, the numbers range from 400,000 on the low end to more than 1.1 million people who may be affected.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diseases and disorders of the brain. Psychiatrists help patients achieve better mental health by treating issues such as OCD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and addiction/dependency issues.
There is no known cure for OCD but there are several treatments which are effective at alleviating symptoms and making OCD more manageable. Treatment helps those suffering from OCD to reduce or eliminate the intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, thereby allowing them to live a normal life.
Patients living in Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar or other locations in Riverside County, California, have access to the latest in OCD treatment at Inland Empire TMS in Murrieta. Inland Empire TMS offers TMS treatment for OCD, which has been proven to provide significant relief for OCD symptoms.
Patient treatment consists of a full diagnostic evaluation using an EEG brain scan and standard mental health screening assessments. Following a psychiatric evaluation, patients may be recommended for TMS therapy.
Many patients prefer TMS over other treatment options because:
If you are suffering from OCD, Inland Empire TMS in Murrieta, California is an excellent choice for treatment. Dr. Cox, clinic psychiatrist, is an expert in diagnosing and treating OCD using the latest diagnostic and treatment tools available.
Inland Empire TMS serves patients in Murrieta, Temecula, Corona, Riverside, and all of Riverside County. The clinic is equipped to diagnose and treat OCD using TMS therapy. Co-occurring cases of OCD along with anxiety or depression are common and can also be treated at the same time.
Contact Inland Empire TMS today at (951) 228-3743 to schedule an appointment and take the next steps toward healing.
